Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: flymofred on 20 December 2013, 18:56:46

Title: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: flymofred on 20 December 2013, 18:56:46
Just fitted new genuine Vx shocks. Previous ones emptied the oil out. The car was riding much higher than my mate's one (also a Elite estate) on the bad shocks.  So I hoped replacement, along with a better ride would change the ride height. But  no, it now has pumped itself up to what looks like  max height. I just my daughter + 3 mates out but height remains locked at max heights. What is not doing it's jobk? obviously nothing wrong  with the compressor or springs. The car maintains this height overnight. Help Thanks martinH
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: YZ250 on 20 December 2013, 19:25:12
Have you tried popping the sensor arm off its little ball on the right hand side of the rear axle. Pop the arm off and lower it right down to see if the shocks will come down. The ride height on my elite estate is 692mm from ground to wheel arch through the wheel centre. Ignition on to test this.
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: biggriffin on 20 December 2013, 19:26:53
Look under neath rear of car, drivers side bout half way along the wishbone you will see the height control valve, pop the arm off,  set it to the middle,the car should now sit level,reconnect the arm,.

do it with front wheels chocked and ign on not running.
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: flymofred on 20 December 2013, 20:16:19
Thanks for your replies  I will give it go in the morning (when it's raining) Thanks again.
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: tidla on 20 December 2013, 21:57:26
Also when moving the arm, dont be impatient as there is a delay before the pump starts or depressurizes.
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: chrisgixer on 20 December 2013, 22:11:12
either the pump is not releasing air, or the sensor is reading the height incorrectly.

There is a guide with pics for the sensor arm as the guys have described.

If moving the sensor doesn't drop the car, then you can let the air out if the shocks by pulling the connector off the shock body above the road wheel in the wheel arch. Support the car though or the car could trap your arm as the air releases, although the drop is quite slow.
You can remove the relay in the glove box to control the system like a switch in the mean time, if you like, to get by until it's diagnosed.

You do need to get the ride height down, if the suspension is fully extended/topped out there will be no suspension travel worth the name and you could potentially loose the rear of the car in a bend or similar.
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: flymofred on 21 December 2013, 11:53:17
Just measured height through wheel cntr 755mm  :(. This arm that needs unclipping front or rear of swingi farm. Oh and p.......g with rain, Hurrah.
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: tidla on 21 December 2013, 12:01:30
Drivers side of the rear diff.
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: flymofred on 21 December 2013, 12:20:16
Okay wet and grumpy I love lying in the gutter in the rain (friday night @ Wetherspoons  ::) )I've knocked the link off the trailing arm, pushed it up comp. ran continuously, pushed down , comp. stopped, stood about, bounced on the tow ball no change quessing a couple of minutes should be enough to see a result.? Better try the relay/pipe off next.  Looking @ the fuse layout fuse 27 supplies level + accessory socket is that the same as pulling the relay which I'm not sure is the right one.
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: amba on 21 December 2013, 12:56:03
To allow shocks to fully deflate its easier to just pull the air lines of each shock,but ensure you have adequate clearance to get arm out as shock will then bottom out.

I had similar fuss when my air shocks were changed couple of years ago and remember messing about releasing air as they wouldnt find a level.Mine turned out to be the pump not relesing air so in effect they were just getting pumped higher on each attempt.
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: flymofred on 21 December 2013, 17:26:11
Just read in the owners hand book that the self levelling should only begin to work, in an estate, when you have the equivalent of 5 adults in the car. So de-pressuring the shocks and pulling the fuse should solve it. Until I can get the pump checked. I don't see  any caravanning happening for some weeks yet We are up to 775mm now
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: amba on 21 December 2013, 19:32:41
Pull the air lines and let them deflate as with that height car would be very unstable to drive and would have little or no dampening
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: flymofred on 22 December 2013, 17:51:10
Pulled fuse 27 , and removed air pipe from drivers side shock (trolley jack in place) whooosh did the nearside but it seems one does both as no air escaped from the nearside. I refitted the pipes. Anyway as predicted the ride is lower and more compliant. Back to the garage tmrw. Thanks 
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: Andy B on 22 December 2013, 17:53:14
...but it seems one does both as no air escaped from the nearside.  .....

One pipe goes from the pump/compressor up front to a T piece & then to each side  ;)
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: amba on 22 December 2013, 18:42:45
Once you open the sealed system all air should escape
With fuse removed compressor now cannot run so car should behave and handle much better albeit you won't now have any self levelling so ride height should be normal
Need to investigate further but I suspect pump is not releasing pressure hence just pushing more air into an already inflated system
Best of luck with it
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: flymofred on 25 December 2013, 01:18:55
Well the local Vx garage is of the opinion that the height sensor is feeding corrupted data,waiting for the no doubt shocking price, along with heater throwing in the towel this a very expensive christmas
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: albitz on 25 December 2013, 07:42:09
RobG probably has a good sensor for sensible money. I dread to think how much VX charg for a new one.  ;)
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: RobG on 25 December 2013, 10:03:14
I have :)
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: chrisgixer on 25 December 2013, 10:38:49
It will be very expensive if using a garage. Get the spanners oot ;)

Or is there a local member that can help? Nick W is out your way I think?
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: Andy H on 25 December 2013, 11:08:59
Has the garage managed to plug in to Tech2 and monitor the sensor output? (I don't know if the self levelling actually talks to Tech2, TB might be able to remember  :-\)

Of the cases that have cropped up on here the faults all seemed to be either wiring damage near the sensor or a faulty release valve in the air compressor.

I don't know if anyone has bothered to strip an air compressor to fix the release valve, it is far easier to source a good second hand pump from one of the OOF breakers.
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 25 December 2013, 11:18:05
Think Lazydocker has had one in bits recently  :-\
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: Andy H on 25 December 2013, 12:16:58
Think Lazydocker has had one in bits recently  :-\
Excellent.
Did he manage to get it back together? (and working?..........)

Either way some photographs of it in pieces might help others fix theirs in the future :y
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: flymofred on 28 December 2013, 11:46:41
I haven't dropped this thread, but the heater fan has packed up as well, see thread headed 'Heater' . So as thanks to tips on this site I've made the suspension safe . I do think I'm going to need some help to get on top of all these probs. martinH
Title: Re: Self levelling shocks.
Post by: RobG on 28 December 2013, 17:38:15
Pump & sensor available if required